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[Fox318]

Whether its tracking steps, sleep, stairs climbed, heart rate, skin temperature, or using a GPS to track your run these devices are almost everywhere. Many work with other health services such as google fit and myfitnesspal and can be use to help you track and understand your health.

Many of these blend the functionality of a smartwatch without having crappy battery life or trying to replace your cellphone and the prices can range from $5 to $700 depending on your goals

Some of the trackers







There are probably thousands of types of wearables out there and that's not including fitness features of smartwatches.

Who here uses them?

I know a few people have Fitbits and use a pedometer here.

 

[f0nz0]

I'm doing research on them, I love the looks of the garminx fenix line..but pricy.. The new Garmin vivoactive hr looks real nice and ticks a lot of boxes , $250 is still pretty pricey

 

[mdsfx]

I love this thing. Has a built-in optical heart rate sensor. No need for a chest strap.

 

[Fox318]

I'm doing research on them, I love the looks of the garminx fenix line..but pricy.. The new Garmin vivoactive hr looks real nice and ticks a lot of boxes , $250 is still pretty pricey

I bought a charge HR and its been awesome for me.

Fenix line is awesome and I was actually considering on picking it up but I'm now upgrading to the Fitbit Blaze.

What's your budget?

 

[Salaadin]

Really want the Blaze but I need to know how durable the band is...mainly where it connects to the actual device. I used to have a Flex but would go through bands like crazy.

Giving it a month and then ill see what reviewers say.

 

[falconxcrunner09]

I use a Garmin Forerunner 600 series for running pretty much to track miles and if I ever get lost (I can set waypoints and it tells me to go that way which is pretty cool).

I have almost hit 1000 miles on it, which isn't too shabby considering I got it in May and I took most of Jan and Feb off from running.

 

[Nostremitus]

I use my Pebble Time Steel Endomondo and Health apps.

 

[Fox318]

I forgot to mention that Polar makes fantastic wearables.

 

[DJ_Lae]

I have an MS Band 2 and I really like it, ignoring the slightly flaky heartrate monitor (though any of these wearables have the same shitty tech there).

 

[Pixels]

Blaze coming this week!

 

[Fox318]

Anyone be up for a neogaf fitbit group?

Invitation only maybe?

 

[ViperVisor]

I just swooped up an ebay auction for a Fitbit Zip the other day because I'm gonna do the Amazon warehouse thing and a wrist tracker might be a problem doing that.

I saw a study that said it was one of the more accurate trackers when they tested it. And the watch battery it uses is good for months before you need a new one.

 

[Necromanti]

Bought a MS Band 2 today for ~$167 (using a $25 gift card I got for free from a promotion a while back). I can tell this thing is going to get scuffed up in no time.

 

[Salaadin]

Blaze coming this week!

If you don't mind, can you post some quick impressions when you get it? I'm mainly interested in the overall quality of the band and how durable it is.

 

[Fox318]

If you don't mind, can you post some quick impressions when you get it? I'm mainly interested in the overall quality of the band and how durable it is.

Mine is coming in today and i ordered the metal band.

I'll post my impressions

 

[Fox318]

I'm loving the blaze so far.

 

[nature boy]

Mi Band 1S here.

More than enough and unbeatable at price.

Very happy with it.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Fitbit One here. I've had it for like two years. Absolutely love it.

 

[SecretMoblin]

I got one of the newer mibands for ~$20 and it's been quite good.

I don't really care about a lot of the bells and whistles, and I mostly wanted it to alert me if I'm getting a call/text/snap/etc., and it does that job very well.

A 30-day battery life is pretty lovely, too.

 

[Himynameischris]

I have the Mi Band 1S, love it, works perfectly. I even set it up to alert me for messages etc. and the heart rate monitor works great too and the price is crazy good.

 

[Aquavelvaman]

I've been using my wife's Samsung Gear S as a running tracker. She got it free from work but doesn't use it, so I use it. It has Nike+ running built-in, it's a pretty slick app. The GPS has been good but the live heart rate monitor has been really inconsistent.

I was originally thinking about getting a Garmin FR(maybe 235 or 630?) but I think the Gear does a good enough job for what I need. Showing pace and distance and recording my route is all I really use.

 

[BumRush]

Great thread, Fox. In for the impressions.

 

[Got the Shakes]

Been through various Jawbone Up's and Fitbit products. Currently using an Apple Watch, but I am seriously thinking about going Garmin with either the Vivoactive HR or Fenix 3 HR. I want something with built in GPS, tracks activity/sleep, and can also be used for golf without relying on a phone (I know the Garmin's require a phone for course downloads, but after that it can function as a golf GPS without needed a phone connection.) There is obviously a big price difference between the two, $249 vs. $599. I think I like more traditional look of the Fenix over the Vivoactive. Also the Fenix HR is out in a few weeks and it sounds like it could be May until the Vivoactive is launched. Decisions decisions.

 

[Malleymal]

Girl just surprised me with the Fitbit blaze , after getting the surge about a month and a half ago, I need to do something with that. Will charge up and post impressions later. I think I need a metal or leather band too to switch up. Anyone looking for a surge ?

 

[Fox318]

Few issues updating the firmware but the Blaze is great.

Hopefully They add features and open up Watch face design to an api so people can make new ones.

Metal band is great but the one it came with is better than my old charge HR.

I was worried that I would have issues doing front squats or yoga with my hand hitting the watch but it's actually thinner than the fitbit charge.

 

[pdog128]

I wear a Garmin vivosmart.

I like it. It's simple and understated, but does enough. Phone calls, e-mails and notifications are passed through, and it keeps track of mileage and calories. I was considering a Microsoft Band, but ended up on this and I'm glad I did.

The only thing is that it's not quite a year old, and blank spots have appeared in the display. I need to have it sent back, makes me question the longevity of the device.

 

[BumRush]

Reviews of 2016 wearables:

http://www.wareable.com/fitness-trackers/the-best-fitness-tracker

 

[Stinkles]

This thread reminds me I have to check my sleep. Band 2.

 

[Auron_Kale]

I used to use the Nike FuelBand until it started to lose its daily charge and since it was discontinued by Nike, I was able to get about 75% of what I bought it for back from them.

Now I just use a Garmin Vivofit 2 as my daily driver. Never needed any of my wearables to track my emails and whatnot since I prefer to workout without any distractions. It tracks my steps, calories earned by simply moving and my sleep.

Maybe one day I'll upgrade to one of the other Garmin watches but not now. To be honest, I'm not really a fan of any of the Fitbit offerings despite them being everywhere here in the Bay Area. Knowing people personally who have had problems with Fitbit products was enough to steer me clear.

 

[TK-421]

Waiting to buy the 2nd gen Fitbit Surge. Hoping it comes out this year.

The new Garmin Vivoactive HR is very tempting though if Fitbit continues to drag: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/02/garmins-vivoactivehr-vivofit3.html

 

[RomanticHeroX]

Super happy with the Fitbit HR. It seems like the sweet spot for useful features without going overboard. A heart rate monitor is the baseline of what one of these devices needs to have to be useful to me, but it's cheap and basic enough that I'm not worried about working out with it. If it didn't take so very long to sync with my phone I'd have no complaints at all.

 

[Fox318]

Waiting to buy the 2nd gen Fitbit Surge. Hoping it comes out this year.

The new Garmin Vivoactive HR is very tempting though if Fitbit continues to drag: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/02/garmins-vivoactivehr-vivofit3.html

Have you looked into the Polar A360?

 

[Flying Toaster]

I had a Fitbit for a year and went through 3 of them. Great for team/group related activity but always died on me. I have an Apple Watch Sport but I don't use it exclusively as a tracker.

 

[Pixels]

If you don't mind, can you post some quick impressions when you get it? I'm mainly interested in the overall quality of the band and how durable it is.

Will do!

 

[Maxim726X]

How accurate are the wristband trackers?

I have a FitBit, but I always wondered how accurate these things are?

 

[Salaadin]

Mine is coming in today and i ordered the metal band.

I'll post my impressions

Will do!

Hey!
I appreciate the responses. I actually caved in and ordered one for myself so I'll be able to try it first hand.

We should do a neogaf group, though!

 

[Zoe]

Have you looked into the Polar A360?

DC Rainmaker really does not seem to like Polar's latest offerings.

 

[GAFmeansLIFE]

As a runner I love everything about my TomTom Spark Cardio + Music. It's multisport. GPS always locks on within seconds. It tracks every metric I could possibly need (including daily and weekly steps/sleep), and it also includes a heart rate monitor and a 4gb mp3 player! I don't hear much talk about this one, but I really love it. Pretty much wear it all the time and it doesn't have so much as a scratch on it either. Would recommend.

 

[Red Comet]

Received my FitBit Blaze today. Still charging, but I'm pretty impressed off the bat. Seems like the perfect combination between a classic FitBit and an Apple Watch to me.

 

[RalliArtEvo]

I wear a Garmin vivosmart.


The only thing is that it's not quite a year old, and blank spots have appeared in the display. I need to have it sent back, makes me question the longevity of the device.

I've had two of them with the same issue. Really frustrating as i love the device, but the screen definitely has longevity issues.

 

[Fox318]

good video review of the blaze
https://youtu.be/BpyBTjfm2TA

 

[Pavaloo]

Oh cool! Awesome OT OP

I just recently got a Jawbone UP2 a few weeks ago for sale off of amazon so I figure I'll offer some impressions.

I kind of wish I got one that would read my heart rate so I can track that while weight lifting, but the price difference had me reluctant. That said I am enjoying the device so far. Keeping track of my sleeping was not a core thing I wanted it for and I honestly didn't care one way or another, but it's been a SUPER useful metric for me recently and being able to see how much deep sleep I get vs light sleep, etc. is pretty interesting. It's helped me a ton in solidifying my sleep schedule - I would find out that I don't pass out till 12 anyway so I may as well not go to bed 2 hours earlier, I get the same sleep either way. The coolest thing so far has been that I can set it to wake me up via vibrating on my wrist so I don't have a super loud annoying alarm, but what makes it so cool is I can set it so that I only get woken up when I'm in light sleep and not in deep rem sleep. So I tend to get up in the morning these days not feeling like shit which is awesome.

I bought the device because I really wanted a fitness tracker that would help me track things in my sedentary office life, but also because I wanted to track how many calories I burned weight lifting. I would always put that info in MyFitnessPal and get a 0 calorie return which was frustrating, but with Jawbone I at least get a ballpark estimate of 554 calories per 50 min workout. It feels really helpful in that way, but I guess I don't know how accurate it is.

All in all, it's really comfortable and I forget I have it on most times (even showering), the step tracking works as expected, and the sleep tracking has been really impressive. I'd recommend, but I honestly need to compare with other bands in the future.

 

[Clearos]

I wear a Garmin vivosmart.


I like it. It's simple and understated, but does enough. Phone calls, e-mails and notifications are passed through, and it keeps track of mileage and calories. I was considering a Microsoft Band, but ended up on this and I'm glad I did.

The only thing is that it's not quite a year old, and blank spots have appeared in the display. I need to have it sent back, makes me question the longevity of the device.

I agree 100% Fits well does the job and it has just enough "smart" features. The text/phone part is great in the office or when out for a run.

No issue with the screen yet and I've done a few weeks of volleyball, so it can def. take a beating granted it hurts like hell if i bump with it.

 

[garath]

This is a cool thread. I'm very interested in all these impressions. I've been eying a fitbit charge myself for awhile. Hard to bring myself to part with $100+ for one of these things but I think it will be worth it just for the sleep functions. Having the vibrate wakeup, waking up during light sleep and tracking my daily activity is probably the most important. Secondary would be really nice to have some smart features - time, texts, notifications, etc from my Android. HR monitor would be nice but probably my least priority.

Nice to hear the other brands are comparable. I may look outside of the fitbit.

Really wanted the Microsoft band 2 but that price is daunting.

 

[mdsfx]

Does the Blaze require a smart phone or will it work fully featured by itself?

 

[Like the hat?]

I have a charge hr. Anyone else get a rash from it? I have to switch wrists every once in a while

 

[SMattera]

I have an Up4. Had the Up3 before that. The heart rate monitor isn't useful at all for exercise, but it's nice to track changes in resting heart rate. I've recently lost about 15 lbs and I've seen my RHR drop about an average of 5bpm. It also does a pretty good job with sleep, and overall the app is great.

The hardware is also nice in that most people don't even notice I'm wearing it. It looks like a livestrong band.

But all that said, I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it. I got it about 9 or 10 months ago and jawbone has replaced it 3 times since then. When it works, it's great, but seems to fail every few months.

 

[UnObtainium17]

Preordered fitbit Alta yesterday for $100 at amazon. Not bad for my first try on these fitness tracking things. $100 was my limit for this. The $130 msrp was too much considering it has no heart rate sensor and is not waterproof. Will be released mid march. Cannot wait to try it out.

Thank you for the nice OT ✌🏾️

Edit. I included a 9$ 2 year warranty with it. The way i will be using this and the complaits about some of fitbits build quality i thought this needed that.

 

[besthijacker]

Would anyone recommend something with pretty good HR tracking for Insanity workout? I have tried two different MS Bands 2 units but they were pretty inaccurate.

 

[andythinkpad]

I narrowed my choices down to Fenix 3 and Sunnto Ambit 3.

By all reviews Fenix 3 is a really good watch but I couldn't find any deal lower than 350.

So I ended up getting a mint Ambit 3 Run for 160. The reason to get the Run version is that its lighter so I can wear it every day. I don't really need the hiking sensors until I am ready to hike in the summer. By summer Fenix 4 should be out and I can pick up a Fenix 3 for cheap.

So far the battery is really good on the Ambit 3 R. If you are not running it only uses 10% battery per day.

I also have had 3 xiaomi band. Two died on me, last one is on my key chain. Its kind of useless, if you just want a full time pedometer, just use your phone.